United Soybean Board (USB) farmer-leaders elected Keith Tapp, fifth generation soybean farmer from Sebree, Kentucky as chair at the annual meeting. In addition, 16 directors, appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in October, were sworn in
by the USDA.

"Our soy checkoff has proven itself by developing new products and markets for U.S. soy for decades," said Tapp. "Our job is to continue this progress through wise and strategic investments, which is more important now than ever."

USB leadership is tasked with guiding the activity of the national soy checkoff in accordance with the strategy outlined by the entire board. USB continues to focus on three priority areas for investment: meal, oil and sustainability.

At the annual board meeting, USB also elected nine directors to serve alongside Tapp on the Executive Committee.

- Jim Carroll, vice chair -- Arkansas

- John Dodson, secretary -- Tennessee

- Dan Farney, treasurer -- Illinois

- Gregg Fujan -- Nebraska

- Woody Green -- South Carolina

- David Iverson -- South Dakota

- Meagan Kaiser -- Missouri

- Tom Oswald - Iowa

- Mark Seib -- Indiana

Three farmer-leaders were also elected to serve on the Strategic Management Committee: Rochelle Krusemark, Minnesota; Ralph Lott II, New York; Doug Winter, Illinois.

USB's 73 farmer-directors work on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers to achieve maximum value for their soy checkoff investments. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds in programs and partnerships to drive soybean innovation beyond the
bushel and increase preference for U.S. soy. That preference is based on U.S. soybean meal and oil quality and the sustainability of U.S. soybean farmers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA
Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.